Ladybird Manor

This week was a landmark week. The boys started their transition to Kindy at a Montessori Kindergarten, the Ladybird Manor, near the Central Market in Adelaide. It is the first time I had ever left them anywhere so it was a big day for us all. I needn't have worried. They took to it like ducks to water and didn't want to come home at the end of the day. What seemed more incredible to me was that they had a nap in the middle of the day with all of the other children. Anyone who knows them knows that getting these boys to sleep is usually a feat of human endurance! Oh, the power of the peer group!! The centre itself is beautiful and exceptionally well run. It is in a 19th century heritage building which was formerly the site of the original Advanced School for Girls. The rooms are light and very spacious. The ratio of staff to children is one to five and the atmosphere is one of peace and serenity. The staff are highly trained and focus on each child's individual needs. They even have a chef to prepare the meals. They focus on play as a vehicle for learning. The boys will be attending each Tuesday.

Today was overcast and drizzling. We decided to take a drive up to stirling in the Adelaide Hills. Our first stop was the Steamroller Park. William and Oliver had not been here before. The park held a couple of challenges which the boys were keen to meet. They both climbed up and along this metal bridge which I thought required a great deal of concentration and balance.

They then had a lot of fun clambering over the old steamroller and playing in the cubbyhouses. We all played out the story of the three little pigs with myself playing the wolf threatening to huff and puff and blow the house in.

We then walked down through the Stirling township to one of my favourite little bookshops, 'Matilda Bookshop'. It is so well set out and has a lovely children's section. I could have stayed there browsing all day. I found some Christmas gifts for family and friends and the new Nigella Lawson cookbook 'Nigella Christmas' for myself. I'll be studying its pages for our Christmas lunch this year.

No trip to Stirling is complete without lunch at the Organic Market Cafe. The food is organic and largely vegetarian. It is usually buzzing with customers and hosts a changing display of local art. We enjoyed a platter of delicious dips with Turkish bread to start with. Britta and the boys then had Provencale bruschetta and I had a carrot and lentil soup which William shared. The boys finished with babycinos.

The next part of our journey took us to Sunset Rock which has been a favourite place of mine for many years. It is the site of a Uniting Church which is perched near cliffs which look directly out onto glorious bushland. It is always a place of peace and tranquillity where the only sounds are those of the abundant birdlife. Kookaburras flew overhead and laughed. The boys and I looked at the bushland and examined an ant's nest, moss rocks and different coloured pebbles. We threw little stones as far as we could out over the rocks.

The final part of our journey took us to Nairne to visit the Flower Garden the Nairne home of David Austin roses and beautiful outdoor furniture and water features. It was so relaxing to wander amongst the gorgeous flowers and shrubs. William and Oliver searched for fish in every fountain.

These Danish elves were a quirky reminder that Christmas is just around the corner!